Measurement Reapplied: Research into the Child's Attitude Towards Religion

In an earlier article, in Learning for Living, Spring 1977, I argued the case that research in the area of religious development in childhood and adolescence can best be advanced by means of the development of rigorous measurement techniques.5 In that paper I described the construction of one particular research instrument developed according to stringent psychometric scaling criteria and I presented the findings of a preliminary survey which employed that instrument. The present paper proposes to strengthen the case in three ways. First, I shall present the summary findings of further recently completed research, and discuss the implications of these findings for the religious educationalist. Second, I shall indicate the ways in which the research employing this instrument and currently in hand stands to advance the state of knowledge regarding the young person's religion. Third, I shall propose ways in which further research can profitably build upon the work so far completed.